Success Stories
These campaigns reached their goal. Thank you for making it happen.
Rocky
Rocky is an 11-year-old Mini Australian Shepard in Nampa, ID, who needs $1,000 for medical treatment of a kidney stone.
nampa, ID
Karen Z. and her family treasure Rocky, "He is loved dearly by me, my husband, and our four daughters. He is our "Rainbow Bridge" puppy as we got him (years ago) after losing our first dog." So when Rocky started vomiting and seemed ill last week, Karen began to get concerned. "We thought he had an upset tummy, so we only fed him rice for the next few days. That seemed to work for a day until he started having trouble going to the bathroom. Today we found out he must have a kidney stone," Karen tells Waggle. Rocky is getting treated for the kidney stone at the Idaho Veterinary Hospital, but Karen is having difficulty paying for his care. She hopes the Waggle community will help her family get their beloved dog the medical attention he needs. "We do not have any extra money at the moment to pay for the vet bills," Karen says. "We are in a tough spot and really need help. We would highly appreciate it." With your assistance, they hope to get him fixed up and back to normal. "He's older, but he's healthy," Karen adds. "He goes for long walks daily and plays with our other dog all the time and loves to frolic on our beanbag chair. He also loves to play with his toys. He has a special bond with our daughters."
Tania
Tania is an eight-year-old Rat Terrier in Venice, FL, who needs $2,000 for tumor removal and dental surgery.
Venice, FL • True & Faithful Pet Rescue Mission
Tania sat, suffering, hidden in the back of an animal shelter that was closed to the public. No one came to reclaim, adopt, or save her. The sweet dog with kind eyes had two huge tumors on her abdomen; one was the size of a tennis ball, the other the size of a soda bottle! When True and Faithful Pet Rescue heard about Tania, the nonprofit group immediately put a plan in action to get her out. "We could not walk past her at the shelter," Lisa L. with the group tells Waggle. "Her eyes pleaded for us to save her." The rescue picked up Tania and rushed her to Huntley Animal Care, where Dr. Bennett, DVM, discovered Tania also needed surgery to remove rotten teeth. "Tania's painful mouth was prohibiting her from eating," Lisa says. As soon as Tania was strong enough for surgery, the medical team went to work and removed 1.5 pounds of tumors from her mammary area and the teeth that were bothering her. Now she's recovering in a foster home and will be cleared for adoption soon. If you're interested in making Tania part of your family, True and Faithful Pet Rescue waives their adoption fee for seniors and helps transport pets to different locations in the U.S. Lisa says the group is thrilled to have saved Tania and hopes generous donors will help them raise the money to pay the medical bills for her care. "Tania deserves better, and better is what she got!"
Puppy Godiva
Puppy Godiva is a Labrador Mix puppy in Lewisville, IN, who needs $1,200 for emergency hospitalization.
Lewisville, IN • Lucky Lab Rescue & Adoption
Lucky Lab Rescue and Adoption saved Puppy Godiva and her entire family from a shelter in Mississippi that euthanizes animals. The group arranged for the mama dog and puppies to be brought to their headquarters in Indiana. And just when the nonprofit rescue thought everyone was safe, Godiva became sick. She started showing neurological issues, was twitching, and could not walk well. The president of the rescue, Katherine Martin, rushed Godiva to the animal hospital. "It is so heartbreaking to have a sick puppy," Katherine tells Waggle. "We expect them to have happy stories and great new lives, but life threw us a curveball." VCA Advanced Veterinary Care Center admitted Godiva immediately and brought in a neurologist to evaluate her. She has been on fluids and medication while the medical team runs tests to figure out the cause. "We hope that Godiva will make a full recovery, and she will be adopted into a loving family. We think she is simply adorable," Katherine adds. Lucky Lab Rescue and Adoption saves dogs from the Midwest, South, and Texas. The rescue is not afraid to take on tough medical cases and won't turn dogs away if they need advanced veterinary care. But they can only keep their doors open with help from generous donors. "We are so thankful for any support we can get," Katherine says. "This has been a hard year donation-wise. So many people are out of work, and we have not been able to hold in-person events and fundraisers like we did before the pandemic hit. It has been challenging."
Kiwi
Kiwi is a six-month-old Blue Pit Bull mix pup in Huntington, WV, who needs $2,000 for emergency care.
Huntington, WV • One by One Animal Advocates
When rescuers at One by One Animal Advocates saw the spark of life in Kiwi's eyes, they knew they had to help her. The six-month-old pup is ravaged by mange and has no hair. Her skin is red, irritated, and burning. Her body is so malnourished and swollen that her skin splits open and bleeds. "Every step Kiwi takes causes her to cry out in pain and discomfort," Heather A., with One by One Animal Advocates, tells Waggle. The group got her to the Proctorville Animal Clinic, where the medical team immediately started to help. "Kiwi has Demodex mange, a terrible skin condition, and needs medication to control the pain felt when she attempts to move," Heather says. "She received antibiotics for her skin and medicated baths." No one knows how long Kiwi suffered before she was saved, but Heather estimates that she spent most of her life like this since she's only a pup. "You wish there was some way to reassure this dog that things are going to be OK. That we are going to take care of her and we will relieve her pain, but unfortunately, it takes a long time." With medical treatment and the help of giving donors, Heather is confident that Kiwi will blossom into a beautiful pup and be adopted when she's ready. "She will ultimately be a normal dog again and put can put her painful past behind her. Please help us raise the money needed to treat Kiwi and give her a second chance."
Wednesday
Wednesday is a 4-year-old Domestic Shorthair in Tucson, AZ, who needs $1,800 for Entropion Bleph-Hotz/Celsus (uni-lid).
Tucson, AZ
I adopted Wednesday and his brother Macbeth from Pima Animal Care Center. I originally chose Wednesday online, but I took both cats because I knew they would have a hard time being adopted as they were a bonded pair and both had birth defects due to congenital FIV. They are indoor only and live with me in Tucson, AZ. I call Wednesday Godzilla on the daily. I originally named him after a character in Neil Gaiman's AMERICAN GODS, as he is down one eye, like Odin (AKA Mr. Wednesday). But 'Zilla fits him just as much as he loves to knock EVERYTHING, especially food and drinks over with his tail and stomp all over my keyboard or whatever I am working on to get in my face/lap. He is a LOVE. I am disabled and on SSD. He just got an expensive dental with my regular vet and an ACVO is required for a surgery like this, and I can't afford their prices. I just want him out of discomfort. Wednesday has congenital entropion in his only (R) eye. The eyelashes turn inward and scrape his cornea when he blinks, causing scarring and pain. His other eye was blind and infected when he was rescued so they removed it. His vision is not great, but I want to protect what's left and get him comfortable and med free. He needs to be friends with everybody, even my late dog, who hated everyone on her lawn or anywhere else. He is the sweetest, kindest, cheekiest cat ever. He loves cheese, if I don't watch him keenly, he will pilfer it. If I step outside, he goes to the window and sings O Fortuna until I return. I can hear him at a distance. He also demands faire la bise, at least 4 on each cheek, every hour.
Arya
Arya is a Shorthaired Tuxedo kitten in Raleigh, NC, who needs $500 for emergency vet care.
Raleigh, NC • Carolina Cat Rescue
Arya is a foster kitty in Carolina Cat Rescue who had a major medical crisis due to an infection that caused a fever, lethargy, anemia, and lack of appetite. She was very sick. Arya was saved when she was 2 weeks old. She & her two brothers were dropped off at a poor, rural county shelter in NC, right after our volunteer had left the shelter for the 2-hour drive back to Raleigh. The shelter staff called and frantically asked us to come back. A box of tiny kittens just arrived & they were starving. Carolina Cat Rescue volunteer, Erika, turn around & headed back to save 3 more lives. She was given a box of kittens who were tiny (10 ounces each) and crying with hunger. The good news is that we had a nursing mom who accepted the babies into her care. She is a survivor and her ordeal did remind us of the phrase from Game of Thrones - “…there is only one thing we say to death -- ‘not today.’’ We helped Arya cheat death twice, she is an amazing kitten who we hope will thrive and live a full, long, adventurous life. Arya is such a special girl. She is fearless in new situations, she cuddles when she is sleepy, she purrs like a champion, she looks lovingly at her foster mom with those big expressive eyes. We wanted to make sure her life is the best it can be and we rushed her to the vet even though it is not always clear how we will raise the money to pay for care. All was going great for 2 weeks, then Arya crashed. Kittens crash hard & fast. Her foster mom found her one morning sitting alone in the corner & shivering and knew she needed vet care. She was barely responsive & not eating. She was rushed to the vet for lifesaving care & tests. After bloodwork & examine the vet said she had anemia, a fever, an infection, and diarrhea.
Lola
Lola is a 14-year-old Labrador mixed in Austin, TX, who needs $2,000 for Ear canal removal surgery.
Austin, TX
I adapted Lola 14 years ago from an adaption event at Petsco. She’s been living with me since she was a puppy. I also have 2 cats Panji and Luna, aged 17 and 6. I also rescued a kitten from the street, she was tiny 2 months screaming in the bushes. I rescued Frida one year ago and she living with us now. Lola is a lovely dog. She likes to play with the cats and she likes to discipline them also when they get naughty. I take her for a long walk in the evenings. She’s most of the time quiet. She loves pepperoni treats and can’t wait to have them when I tease her. Her attitude changed since her infection, she’s more quiet and taking a side as she’s not feeling well. She can’t sleep well from pain. We are not doing well financially. We paid all what we could for her treatment and now we can’t afford to pay anything more. I lost my job a while ago and still looking for another job. The surgery cost is very high. Lola has been suffering from a recurring ear infection. We've been taking her to vets but the infection keeps coming back. She needs a surgery to have her ear canal removed. She’s been suffering for almost a year now, her condition is really bad, she would scream of pain and irritation. We took her to Veterinary Surgical Solutions and the surgery cost is about $2226 for one ear. Lola is so friendly with people and dogs. She would run to make friends with all the people while I’m walking her. She would drag me just to go say hello to anyone passing by. She loves to play with our 3 cats. She’s not so social with other dogs but she’s always curious. She loves snow and scarred of thunder. She jumps to cuddle when there’s thunder and keeps shaking.
Harley
Harley is a 11-year-old Chihuahua in Galveston, TX, who needs $300 for dental treatment.
Galveston, TX
Neighbors had too many animals, eleven yrs ago. Put in my arms and kept him. My, buddy and best friend. Stayed under the bird cage the first night, about 4 months old, and growled at us. Told the neighbors the next day, I dont know about this. After my ex left, the pup came under the covers with me, and he's been crawling under the covers the same way for eleven years Good guard dog, eats other people or tries to scare them. Had friends call him the devil dog, but he's not. Protects my house. When I had to work two jobs, go to school prior, he never complained, and was a perfect pup. We lived through some tough years. Keeping a roof over are heads, and keeping a job. We both made it. But, Harley needs some help with his teeth right now. I'm by myself. Employed 15 wk, my Bill's are paid up; rent,ins, etcI dont have ins. But I need to take care of Har. Trying to make it through the last 10 weeks of college in electronics. Hopefully well find a better job and a better apt. With no floods, and crazy people outside Been healthy, hurt teeth right now, very stinky breath, I need to do something. Have the first consultation with the vet today about his teeth. Keep you'all informed. He's been attacked by loose wild dogs, and crazy people just in a split second, changing their route and quickly taking a foot swipe to him in a fraction of a second. Been a while, I live in the barrios of gal eston tx. Loves his squeaky toys especially, stinky. I think he knows English too well. I know after all these years being together, us two, he knows just about everything I say. Cant stop him from talking, if someone tries to talk to me, typical man, guess he learned that from the boys. Good stinky mix dog, hates baths, but use to get him to the beach and rinse him off.
George
George is a two-year-old Labrador in Lewisville, IN, who needs $1,500 for leg surgery.
Lewisville, IN • Lucky Lab Rescue & Adoption
An email sent to Lucky Lab Rescue and Adoption saved George's life. "A Texas shelter sent us a message saying they were going over the dogs in their facility and noted what a nice black Lab George was, but he was missing part of his foot and needed immediate medical help," the rescue's volunteers tell Waggle. When the nonprofit group first saw George's pictures, they were taken by his beautiful but bewildered face and wondered if he was thinking, "What happened to my paw?" No one knows how George hurt his foot. The shelter said he was found in a field, and he may have been injured for quite some time. A kind rescue volunteer picked up George from the shelter and drove him straight to Sunset Canyon Vet to meet with the wonderful Dr. Portie. Lucky Lab had high hopes George might be a candidate for a prosthetic device to help him walk again on all four legs. But the group just found out that an infection has been festering in George's leg and traveled up the bone almost to his shoulder. His muscle in his shoulder has also atrophied because he must not have been using his injured leg for some time. Sadly, George needs to have his leg amputated. The vet says he is young and other than his horrible foot injury, he is relatively healthy. He's expected to make a full recovery from his surgery and should be available for adoption once he's all healed up. Lucky Lab doesn't turn away dogs that need serious medical attention and relies on donations to give more dogs like George a second chance!